Web tension control



Jan. 19, 1954 F. J. WOOD WEB TENSION CONTROL rF iled June 29$ 1950 '4 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR. FRANK J. wooo way/ 04% ATTORNEYS Jan. 19, 1954 F. J. woo n WEB TENSION CONTROL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29. 1959 JNVENTOR. FRANK 'J. WOOD P 4 WM ATTORNEYS Jan. 19, 1954 F. J. WOOD WEB TENSION CONTROL 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 29, 1950 INVENTOR.

FRAN K J. WOOD A TTOQNEYS Jan. 19, 1954 Filed June 29, 1950 F. J. WOOD WEB TENSION CONTROL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. FRANK J. WOOD A TTO/QNEYS Patented Jan. 19, 1954 WEB TENSION CONTROL Frank J. Wood, Spokane, Wash., assignor to Erwin Loewy, New York, N. Y.

Application June 29, 1950, Serial N0. 171,170

This invention relates to an apparatus for holding and controlling the feeding of sheet material andkis especially suitable for feeding material to rolling mills for thin foil and the like.

It has been diflicult in the prior art to properly control the unwinding of sheet foil, particularly very thin foil, and also to prevent backlash in the unwinding apparatus. Another problem has been the provision of a suitable chuck for V holding the sheet material reels or spools. It is desirable to be ableto slip the spool over the chuck and then to clamp the spool in place on the chuck.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for controlling the feed or unreeling of sheet material.

A further object .is to control the position of the material being unreeled, such as in doubling and slitting operation.

One of the features of the invention is the use of a means employing an electric apparatus for applying a braking force to the reel as the sheet material is fed to a rolling mill or the like. In conjunction therewith, a free wheeling clutch arrangement may be connected to the mechanism controlling the rotation of the reel by preventing movement thereof in a direction reversed relative to the unreeling rotation for the purpose of preventing backlash or backward rotation in the event the foil breaks.

These and other advantages, features, and objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings: V

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view partially in section. I

'Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1. v l V Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, taken along theline 3.3 of Figure 1. v Y 1 Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, partially in section showing the upper half of the chuck mechanism of Figure 1 in released position. 7 r

V Figure 5 is a schematic side view of one form of a doubling combination in which the invention can be used. t Y

Figure 6 is a plan view of Figure 5.

As mentioned,.the apparatus is particularly useful for holding a reel of sheet material so as to feed it properly to an. apparatus such as a rolling mill or the like, or in conjunction with a doubling arrangement, In the feed of material to an apparatus, such as a rolling mill, particularly when thin foil is involved, it is desirable to place 4 Claims. (01. 242-75) 2 a continuous tension on the sheet material. It also is necessary to prevent movement in a backward direction in the event the strip being fed or unreeled should slow up or break. Frame ll! of the device supports gearing connected with electric motor H. The frame I0 also supports the chuck arrangement generally indicated at I2 and the backlash preventer [3. Electric motor H is connected through shaft M with small pinion l5,'said pinion engaging gear l6. Gear I6 is supported on shaft H which is held in bearings l8 and is on frame it) of the mechanism. Gear [6 meshes with gear 20, gear 20 being keyed to sleeve 2| by key 22. Sleeve 2! is rotatable in bearings 23 and 24 carried by frame ll! of the machine.

The reciprocable chuck assembly shaft 25 is longitudinally movable within the bore of sleeve 2!, said reciprocable shaft 25 being keyed by some suitable means to sleeve 2E. The reciprocable shaft 25 is arranged so that it can have the desired predetermined longitudinal movement relative to sleeve 2!, sleeve 2i being fixed longitudinally relative to frame l0. Reciprocable shaft 25 has a tail piece 26 (Fig. 2) rotatably mounted at 21 in frame 28. Tail piece 26 has a collar 29 thereon so as to be held longitudinally relative to said reciprocable frame 28. Frame 28 can have alug 30 depending therefrom with a nut.3l fastened thereto, nut 3| being engageable with rotatable threaded adjusting rod 32..-The adjusting rod 32 can. have a worm wheel 33 mounted thereon, said worm wheel 33 being rotatable by worm 34 drivable by motor 35. Upon a movement of frame 28 so as to move the recipro-' cable shaft 25 to the right or left as desired and this will serve to properly position chuck assembly I2 and reel 36 relative to the machine to which strip from reel 36 is being fed. As will be explained hereafter, such movement can be controlled automatically.

As will be explained hereafter, when shaft 44 is moved to the left by motor 48, jaws 39 will be moved outwardly because of movement of slide 8| to the left. During this time, abutment 43 will urge jaws 39 against inturned'ends 84C. After lugs 82A have moved far enough to pass the ends 840, lugs 82A will engage the righthand (Fig. 4) face of jaws 39, so that further movement of the shaft 44 will move the jaws to the left toward flange 38 of the spindle. Thus, the jaws first are moved outwardly and then are moved longitudinally by the continuous axial movement of shaft 44 so as to engage a coil between jaws 39 and inclined surface or flange 38. Motor H can be connected electrically so as to provide a braking force on the reel 36 as the material is unrolled and the amount of braking action can be adjusted in any suitable manner.

If power is supplied to the motor tending to rotate it "a, direction opposite m n mir ling direction, the roll 36 will be rotated 'inthe opposite direction in the event of breakage of the foil. In order to prevent such counterrotatidn of roll 36, an automatic clutch or brake means- 53 can be provided.

Gear 49 is keyed to sleeve 2t by key ier -.G'ar

49 meshes with gear i said gear 5! being mount ed on shaft 52.. Free wheelin gucl utchk5,3 has an inner cam unit 54 (Fig. 3) mounted on's tie). Cam unit 54 has indentions 55 therein with sloping faces as shown. Rolls 56 are carried between acjam" unit 54 and; the outer;;.-race .Qrfle re. l, outer race 5i-being mount d n reca ried bran upri ht-stationary memb r-1 vso hat he e t r race is held stationary relative tothe frame of the machine. .mc rflisv,ar a e sq. th i'w entth ree is fe in at r altdi tellin mi sha t 521N111. rota e i h ct on. n a ,ed by the arrowin Figure 3, the balls being carriedalong by the radialportions 589i the cam gunit f fie The amu tfifl can b reve ed ranged according tothe direction in which reel 1135 e.- ro e r el th ve t Sha t 52 should, reverse, itsdirection, then the balls will i idejalong and :outwardlyon the sloping iaces 55 515m from being rotated in the wrong direction by me er -1 l or. hs w -lu o e a sw tchin re l lg ill 9. which m si i sb i Rise th the reel i'elative Y to iheni t sa d thus top t eme hee e rr sfie in a iou manners.- .pnefe smpl v l ust at d F res and w erei tygof the: i esfla e u ed. in. conj i w tha ouebl nsi-e i ane i n w er in it nece ary, gaccu; tely align the edges oithesheets. identicak pa siareeiv n t e same r f r nc shave -l acters in Figures 5 and 6 as in the preceding figuresrwqhm v .a

:Priorpractice ,has been tq. take two. coils after =.theyshavebeenrolled to. a..certain thickness and ,-put thenr on a-lmachine known as a Slitter DOll-r.

-' gagement w h z:.rewo.und,.a.the stripds annealed. and sentto-Zthe "miHLiOI further'reduction. Thus, two separate amachifiesand. operationshave -be'en"re'quired.

-.Also,;increased'coi1 size makes for a greater difa ferential e12 build-up of coil' diameter' during the operation. To match two stri'psfthey"must be kept "under reasonably constant tensionjso' that they: will wind uniformly after being rolled to- A. I o g high-type having two working rolls 5} .backing rolls, 5;, 52, Y A guide'frolll 53 ean be. as-

' one. s de tgjthefrri n'fseieste ge detpe tothe rolls. I et r e i wlhe meu te a h .u i i fim ehu r o qs i dl s 31A,; ts isi swi of the sheet. a $3 he tmat ri f om. a ul r l 35A s. ind

ated at 53, being fedtheretqby guidemoll fifi.

similarly, t e. sheet material .6 6,..ir m :911 3.6.3.;

is fed under guide roll 6!. Guide rolls 59 and BI mill fis indicated atftcbf the the rolling min as.

-on tiled-"i1rateria lthereon, said rewinding coil beis seen, at B9 "and fa photo-electric winding machines edge of the sheets.

slit jandthen i necessity of h u w di g. i

" slitted, and Te ing slide'waysf'f in f- Chuck spindle 84, which can -be nte'gralwith M "s'p n lwand doubling roll 63 to thence to the feed "slitting arf'd positioning apparatus 62.

to said roll 65 and then to A rewind reel 56A is at the far end ottherolling mill for receiving the rolled f lissh i a a ing rptated by a suitable motor apparatus (not shown). The trimmings from the sheets may be gathered in trough t! and drawn out by blower arrangement '68 to a disposal point.

In order. to positidn 'th'e sheets "axially and in correctpo'sition relative to each other, "a photoelectric controlarran g ement for the upper sheet positioning means forfthelower sheet 'at it. The photo-- electricposit'ioning apparatus may have an electric-eye arrangementscanning the edge'of the sheet for the piirpose'of operating the control devices connected'with 'themotors 35'of -the unfor properly positioning the "Asis known in the art, the photo-electric cell control will produce'acontrol signal in "i'c'ating the; deviation of "the edge of the moving webastofd'rectionand amount from the desired position and this" is used to operate meters at} agle) ,"tdadjust' the positionfof the edge of theshe'ts -It isthus apparent that-a mechanism can be provided wherein sheet material can be um'vofundf at 'high sp'eeds, doubled, I d 'to 'af 'r'ollingimill without "the a lngfintermediate winding and I t Othercontrol means than photo-electric ca be used; such-asmechanical feelers. Two or -rriere; strips 'of f sh'eet material can be payed-oil" from laterally adjustable braked reel; ds 'thefjstrips beihgf m'atched,

x tor-the like.

' The chuck warran'ged so that the "re lspo'ol can be slipped thereove' and a sin gle operator used to moveth algripping en- H n' to '-move tlie spool axially 1 elativetothe" uci so"as'"to clarhp it between said jaws and a fiid slping-eollar or scheme on "the enter-shame.

As mentioned previously, reciprocablesliaft'M having an eit'erisirf 45: is"cbhnected to" an operable by hydraulic motor 48. *Shaft M has-a has a plurality of longitudinally extendings'l om h"h' am 39} are slida-ble.

tube 25 has'hle'frifi rethe ein"'receiving providing"; butn'ient ioi' we end thereon. 5 Astill furthennlaigfed"b'oietdA receives the jaw abutment member-43. The chuck spindle 84 neg" the jaws 39"13813116611'112118 lugs and theespring pressed' abutment member-13. Theetransverse width ibetween-theelugrfaces 8491s made such that jaws. The lugs are made a transverse width such that they will enter between the intumed lugs 84C.

The parts are shown in their inactive position in Figure 4. As the shaft 44 is moved to the left, the jaws will be held in their right hand position abutting lugs 84C until lugs 82A'reach the jaws,

at which time the jaws will be in their radially extended position. Further movement of the shaft 44 to the left will cause movement of the jaws 'to the left to the position illustrated in Fig-' ure 1, so as to tightly clamp spool 31 between the jaws and the sloping shoulder 38. A schematic showing of the control circuits for the motors 35 and photo-cells 69 and 70 is illustrated by the wires C, D and E being connected to the controlbox.

The term foil in the claims is meant to include strip, foil normally meaning in the art rela-- tively thin strip.

Itis to be understood that the apparatus can be used for various purposes and that changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: r

1. In a foil unwinding machine, the combination comprising a reel spindle, a sleeve means carrying said spindle, said spindle being longi-- tudinally moveable relative to said sleeve so that the spindle can be selectively positioned, a rotatable electric braking means connected to said sleeve means placing tension on strip being unreeled from said spindle, and a free-wheeling braking means connected to said sleeve means freely rotatable when the sleeve and spindle are rotating in unreeling direction, but automatically moving to a braking position if rotation of said reel is reversed from its unreeling condition so as to prevent backlash and the like. a

2. In a foil unwinding machine,-the combination comprising a reel spindle, a rotatable electric motor connected to said reel spindle through a power transmission means for applying a braking force to said spindle as it rotates in an unreeling direction, and a braking clutch connected to said power transmission means, said clutch having cam means thereon stopping rotation of said spindle if movement of said power transmission means from other than an unreeling direction takes place. a

3. In a foil unwinding machine, the combination comprising a, reel spindle, a rotatable electric motor connected to said reel spindle through a power transmission system for applying a braking force to said spindle as it rotates in an unreeling direction, and' a braking clutch connected to said power transmission system and thus to said spindle, said clutch having a sleeve and cam unit inside of said sleeve, said sleeve and cam sleeve, a gear train connected to said sleeve.

means adapted to connect a rotatable electric motor to said gear train for tensioning foil being unwound from said spindle, a second gear train connected to said sleeve, and a braking clutch connected to said second gear train, said braking clutch having a fixed collar and a cam unit inside of said collar, said collar and cam unit being freely rotatable relative to each other when the spindle is turning in an unreeling direction, said cam unit having sloping surfaces and rolling elements between said sloping surfaces and collar, so that if said spindle starts to rotate in a direction the reverse of unreeling, the rolling elements will cooperate with said sloping surfaces to stop the spindle.

FRANK J. WOOD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,192,063 Hoberg July 25, 1916 1,343,910 Evans June 22, 1920 1,908,250 Huston May 9, 1933 2,078,669 King Apr. 27, 1937 2,203,181 Potdevin et a1 June 4, 1940 2,280,970 ONeil Apr. 28, 1942 2,331,210 Lundblad Oct. 5, 1943 2,331,249 Treadway Oct. 5, 1943 2,485,757

Michel Oct, 25, 1949 

